Taiga Ecology

Jenna Patton and Romina Manochahri

Taiga Ecology

Jenna Patton and Romina Manochahri

The taiga biome

The taiga biome is located the northern hemisphere of the earth. This biome is one of the coldest. The climate consist of mainly winter and summer. The winter is brutally cold and the summers are warmer and humid. Many plants and animal species thrive in this area.

Taiga Biome

Species and their adaptations!

Lingonberries (vaccinium vitis-idaea)

A short, evergreen shrub that bare red fruit and grow in taiga and tundra biomes. These Berries are native to Scandinavia, Alaska and Northeastern Canada.

Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)

This flower is a low lying, "creeping" plant that lives in the taiga biome. This flower has a delicate bell shape and a light pink color.

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Evergreen trees, including this black spruce species are the most common trees in the taiga biome. They have evergreen needle leaves and cones to protect their leaves.

Lingonberries (vaccinium vitis-idaea)

A short, evergreen shrub that bare red fruit and grow in taiga and tundra biomes. These Berries are native to Scandinavia, Alaska and Northeastern Canada.

Twinflower (Linnaea borealis)

This flower is a low lying, "creeping" plant that lives in the taiga biome. This flower has a delicate bell shape and a light pink color.

Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

Evergreen trees, including this black spruce species are the most common trees in the taiga biome. They have evergreen needle leaves and cones to protect their leaves.

Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

This plant is a purple colored, carnivorous plant. The taiga soil is very acidic and lack nitrogen, so these plants grow well in this area.

Cottongrass or cottonsedge (Eriophorum angustifolium)

This is a flowering plant that has a whispy white flower resembling cotton.

Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

This plant is a purple colored, carnivorous plant. The taiga soil is very acidic and lack nitrogen, so these plants grow well in this area.

Cottongrass or cottonsedge (Eriophorum angustifolium)

This is a flowering plant that has a whispy white flower resembling cotton.

Taiga Plant Adaptations

In the taiga biome, the sun normally hangs low in the sky and there isn't much nutrients in the soil. This makes having evergreen leaves a great adaptation. Growing new leaves takes a lot of energy, so with the little energy available to taiga plants, keeping their leaves in colder months is important. Another adaptation needed is a thicker to needle like leaf. In the winter months, the ground freezes over and roots are unable to take in water. Thicker leaves help with water conservation. The leaves are also drier and contain very little sap. This protects the leaves from freezing. Most leaves in the taiga also contain a chemical to keep animals from eating them. For trees. Stronger branches help uphold heavy amounts of precipitation and their cone-like shape lets snow role off of the tree instead of clumping together on it. Lastly, plants in the taiga biome must be able to live in highly acidic soil which makes up most if not all of the taiga biome.

Snowshoe hare-Lepus americanus

This white furry animal lives in the taiga and north shore of the artic ocean. It uses its fur to camouflage into it surroundings. When the snow melts the fur turns brown to camouflage into the surroundings in the spring.

Brown bear-Urus arctos

This big mammal is the largest land-based predator on earth. It weight about 20 to 82 pounds.

Great horned owl-Bubo virginianus

This owl has earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself.

Snowshoe hare-Lepus americanus

This white furry animal lives in the taiga and north shore of the artic ocean. It uses its fur to camouflage into it surroundings. When the snow melts the fur turns brown to camouflage into the surroundings in the spring.

Brown bear-Urus arctos

This big mammal is the largest land-based predator on earth. It weight about 20 to 82 pounds.

Great horned owl-Bubo virginianus

This owl has earlike tufts, intimidating yellow-eyed stare, and deep hooting voice. This powerful predator can take down birds and mammals even larger than itself.

Gray Wolf- Canis lupus

This animal is an ancestor of the domestic dog. They range in color from grizzly brown or black and all types of white. The gray wolf eats deer and elk.

Moose- Alces alces

The moose is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the large antlers on there head.

Red Squirrel- Sciurus vulgaris

The red squirrel is small squirrel with reddish to reddish-gray fur on top and a white or cream underside. The red squirrels insects, seeds, bark, nuts, fruits, mushrooms and pine seeds or cones.

Gray Wolf- Canis lupus

This animal is an ancestor of the domestic dog. They range in color from grizzly brown or black and all types of white. The gray wolf eats deer and elk.

Moose- Alces alces

The moose is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the large antlers on there head.

Red Squirrel- Sciurus vulgaris

The red squirrel is small squirrel with reddish to reddish-gray fur on top and a white or cream underside. The red squirrels insects, seeds, bark, nuts, fruits, mushrooms and pine seeds or cones.

Red fox-Vulpes vulpes

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits and birds. They weight about 6.5 to 24 lbs (3 to 11 kg).There life span in the wild is about 2 to 4 years.

Minks-Neovision vison

Minks are dark-colored carnivores mammals of the family Mustelidea, which also includes the weasels,otters and ferrets. These small animals that were once hunted for fabric.

Red fox-Vulpes vulpes

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits and birds. They weight about 6.5 to 24 lbs (3 to 11 kg).There life span in the wild is about 2 to 4 years.

Minks-Neovision vison

Minks are dark-colored carnivores mammals of the family Mustelidea, which also includes the weasels,otters and ferrets. These small animals that were once hunted for fabric.

Taiga Animal Adaptations

Migrate

Hibernate

Camouflage

Producing layers of fur (staying warm)

Defend them selfs (quills)

Relationships in the food web

Competition- Lynx vs Owl

The Lynx and the long-ears owl compete for a lot of the same food, including the snow-foot hare. Often times the Lynx would have to catch the hare and keep it from being stolen by the long-ears owl.

Predatation- Bear and salmon

The brown bear and the salmon are an example of Predatation because the bear hunts the salmon for food and the salmon has to avoid the bear to live.

Mutualism- Moss and tree

This is an example of mutualism because the moss protects the tree from harmful bugs and the tree gives the moss a shaded place to live and grow.

Commensalism- Birds and tree

This is an example of commensalism because the birds gain shelter from the tree, but the tree is neither harmed, nor benefited.

Parasitism- Brain worm and Caribou

This is an example of parasitism because the worm lives and feeds off of the caribou's brain while the caribou suffers pain and harm.

*Short summary of bottom columns*

In the first picture, the land is barren. At this point, the soil is already there.

In the second pictures grass has begun to grow along with small, low lying plants such as moss(if not already grown in primary succession) and cotton grass.

The third picture shows bushes and shrubs beginning to grow. Bigger flowering plants also begin to grow.

The last picture shows a climax ecosystem where trees begin to grow into forest.

Human impact of taiga

Fun Facts!

1.The taiga biome is the largest terrestrial biome.

2.Taiga habitats inhabits millions of insects.

3.Temperature in the taiga can go as low as -60F.

4.Another name for taiga is boreal forest because it has so many trees.